Chamelaucium uncinatum--`Cascade Jewel`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Chamelaucium uncinatum plant, named `Cascade Jewel`, particularly characterized by having an erect plant of higher than normal branching density with numerous secondary stems of gracefully weeping poise. The heavily blooming plant flowers in winter, with presentations of unusually large flowers having a wide range of nectary color from yellow-green when immature to greyed-purple when mature. The widely ranging petal colors fall within a range between near white to red-purple and purple complimenting the nectary coloration.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

This invention related to a new and distinct variety of Chamelaucium uncinatum which is referred to herein as the new variety `Cascade Jewel`. `Cascade Jewel` resulted from a controlled pollination breeding programme carried out by breeders T. P. Angus and N. F. Derera, both of 244 Singles Ridge Road, Winmalee, New South Wales, 2777, Australia.

`Cascade Jewel` resulted from the controlled pollination of Chamelaucium uncinatum variety GW15 (seed parent) by Chamelaucium uncinatum variety GW9 (pollen parent). `Cascade Jewel` was selected in July 1991 on the basis of flower colour, flower size and plant habit. `Cascade Jewel` was shown to be stable through two vegetatively propagated generations. The breeding and subsequent characterization of `Cascade Jewel` were carried out at Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia.

`Cascade Jewel` is most notable for its predominance of immature nectary colour R.H.S. No 144C, mature petal colour R.H.S. No 77B, its large flower diameter (mean 17.6 millimeters) with intermediate floral tube outline, and its erect plant habit with cascading or weeping new growth, when grown under conditions such as 25° C. to 30° day temperature/15° to 18° night temperature with high nutrition.

`Cascade Jewel` has been vegetively propagated by means of striking plant cuttings at the above-noted location, at Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia. Examination of various `Cascade Jewel` plants has confirmed that the combination of characteristics described herein are firmly fixed throughout successive generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

`Cascade Jewel` is illustrated by teh accompanying photographic drawings:

FIG. 1: Is a photographic print in full color showing a single potted specimen of `Cascade Jewel` which was planted in approximately January 1994. The photograph was taken in June 1994 and the plant is approximately 30 centimeters high×2.5 centimeters wide.

FIG. 2: Is a photographic print in full color which compares bud and flower formations of `Cascade Jewel`, and comparative Chamelaucium uncinatum varieties `Purple Pride` and `Burgundy Blush`. The figure shows the various stages from immature bud through to mature flower and floral tube outline.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the `Cascade Jewel` with color designations according to the Horticultural Colour Chart issued by the British Colour Council in collaboration with The Royal Horticultural Society Copyright 1938. The observed traits have been repeatedly observed and are believed to be characteristic of `Cascade Jewel` which, in combination, distinguish `Cascade Jewel` as a new and distinct cultivar.

Locality: `Cascade Jewel` was grown and observed at Newport Nurseries, Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia

Parentage: Open pollination of Chamelaucium uncinatum GW15 (seed parent) by Chamelaucium uncinatum GW9 (pollen parent).

Growth habit: Erect plant habit with cascading or weeping new growth, particularly when grown under conditions, such as 25° C. to 30° C. day/15° to 18° C. night temperatures with high nutrition.

Shape: When grown in a glasshouse with weekly nutrient supply the plants develop a semi-erect habit with new growth weeping/hanging down from the more erect firm older growth.

Size: When grown in a 130 millimeter pot in a glasshouse with nutrients supplied weekly approximate dimensions from twelve months from rooted cutting are:

Height:--60 to 75 centimeters.

Width:--20 to 35 centimeters.

Line growth: Hight branching frequency on main stem and side branch. Medium to high branching frequency on side branches.

Foliage: Mature leaflets at branched node with length 35 millimeters to 45 millimeters; diameter approximately 1.2 millimeters, opposite, linear, almost terete with acutely hooked apex, spreading to reflexed and glabrous. Colour RHS No 139A (green color group).

Flowers: Flowering times are between June through August with fifty percent burst occurring at this time. Flower diameter is approximately 18.2 millimeters (mean reading based on twenty observations), and the petal is of obovate outline. Mature flower colour is R.H.S. No 77B. The petal outline is notched and the petal margin is undulate. The predominate floral tube outline is conical.

Propagation: Propagation by cuttings.

The characteristics of `Cascade Jewel` were compared closest known Chamelaucium uncinatum varieties `Purple Pride` and `Burgundy Blush`. Comparative growing trials were conducted in a glasshouse at Winmalee, New South Wales, Australia. Rooted cuttings were potted into a 130 millimeter pots in commericial potting mix in February 1994. Plants were watered as required. Nutrients were supplied once weekly as liquid feed and plant protection sprays were applied as necessary. The trial consisted of twenty plants of each of the cultivars `Cascade Jewel`, `Purple Pride` and `Burgundy Blush` randomly arranged. Pots were spaced at 24 centimeter intervals and measurements were taken from each plant in the trial for each of the characteristics recorded.

    ______________________________________     TABLE OF COMPARISON OF     CHAMELAUCIUM UNCINATUM VARIETIES     ______________________________________                      CASCADE JEWEL     ______________________________________     PLANT HABIT      Cascading     FLOWERING TIME   June/July/August     (50% bud burst)     BUD COLOUR     With Operculum     Colour           Red     RHS No           47CD 72B 50C     Without Operculum     Colour           Purple or purple-violet     RHS No           77B 81B     Floral tube, mid-region     Colour           Yellow-green or greyed-purple                      or red-purple     RHS No           144BC 60A 178B     FLOWER DIAMETER (mm)     Mean             17.6     Range            16.2-19.0     PETAL     Outline          Obovate     Immature colour     Colour           Red-purple or purple or violet or                      white     RHS No           69CD 76B 77C 84AB 155CD     Color Development                      Fast     Mid-mature colour     (5 to 15 days after bud burst)     Colour           Purple     RHS No           77BC     Mature Colour     (ca 20 days after bud burst)     Colour           Purple     RHS No           77B     NECTARY     Immature colour     Colour           Yellow-green     RHS No           144C     Mature colour     Colour           Greyed-purple     RHS No           187A     STAMINODIA     Outline          Medium triangular (MT)     Mature collar colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           64A 67A 68A 72B     STYLE COLOUR     Immature colour     Colour           Red-purple or violet     RHS No           62ABCD 73D 84C     Mid-mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           62ABCD 73D 84C     Mature colour     Colour           Purple     RHS No           62AB 63B 68B     CALYX LOBE     Mid-mature colour     Colour           Purple     RHS No           77BCD     Mature colour     Colour           Purple     RHS No           77BC     FLORAL TUBE     Outline          Intermediate     Fluting          Present     Diameter     Mean             7.4     Range            6.5-8.0     Mid-point colour     Colour           Yellow-green or greyed-red     RHS No           144C 178A 179A 180A 181A     FLOWER ARRANGEMENT                      Broad distal (BD)     FLOWER FRAGRANCE Present     ______________________________________                      PURPLE PRIDE     ______________________________________     PLANT HABIT      Erect     FLOWERING TIME   June/July/August     (50% bud burst)     BUD COLOUR     With Operculum     Colour           Red     RHS No           47AC 48A 50B     Without Operculum     Colour           Red purple, or purple or violet     RHS No           72C 75A 77BC 84B     Floral tube, mid-region     Colour           Red or greyed-purple or green                      or yellow-green     RHS No           53B 143C 144C 183A 184A     FLOWER DIAMETER (mm)     Mean             15.03     Range            13.4-16.5     PETAL     Outline          Obovate     Immature colour     Colour           Purple     RHS No           75AB 77D     Color Development                      Fast     Mid-mature colour     (5 to 15 days after bud burst)     Colour           Purple or purple-violet     RHS No           75A 77B 80A     Mature Colour     (ca 20 days after bud burst)     Colour           Purple or red-purple     RHS No           72B 77B     NECTARY     Immature colour     Colour           Yellow-green     RHS No           144B     Mature colour     Colour           Greyed-purple     RHS No           185A 187AC     STAMINODIA     Outline          MT     Mature collar colour     Colour           White     RHS No           155D     STYLE COLOUR     Immature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           62ADC     Mid-mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           62ACD     Mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           62D 155D     CALYX LOBE     Mid-mature colour     Colour           Red-purple or purple     RHS No           67B 70B 77B     Mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           72A 77B     FLORAL TUBE     Outline          Conical     Fluting          Present     Diameter     Mean             7.34     Range            6.1-8.7     Mid-point colour     Colour           Red-purple or greyed-red     RHS No           59A 178A     FLOWER ARRANGEMENT                      BD     FLOWER FRAGRANCE Present     ______________________________________                      BURGUNDY BLUSH     ______________________________________     PLANT HABIT      Cascading     FLOWERING TIME   June/July/August     (50% bud burst)     BUD COLOUR     With Operculum     Colour           Red     RHS No           47D 48ABC     Without Operculum     Colour           Purple     RHS No           77B     Floral tube, mid-region     Colour           Yellow-green or orange-red, or                      greyed-purple or red     RHS No           34C 46A 144C 178A     FLOWER DIAMETER (mm)     Mean             17.8     Range            14.5-19.4     PETAL     Outline          Obovate     Immature colour     Colour           Purple     RHS No           45AC 76C 77BC     Color Development                      Fast     Mid-mature colour     (5 to 15 days after bud burst)     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           75AB     Mature Colour     (ca 20 days after bud burst)     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           72B     NECTARY     Immature colour     Colour           Greyed-orange     RHS No           167AB     Mature colour     Colour           Greyed-purple     RHS No           187A     STAMINODIA     Outline          MT     Mature collar colour     Colour           Red-Purple     RHS No           64B 71B 72B     STYLE COLOUR     Immature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           62BCD 64C 73C     Mid-mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           62ACD 72B     Mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           62AB 63B 64D 72B     CALYX LOBE     Mid-mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           71BD 72B     Mature colour     Colour           Red-purple     RHS No           71B 72AB     FLORAL TUBE     Outline          Flared     Fluting          Present     Diameter     Mean             7.2     Range            6.5-78     Mid-point colour     Colour           Red or red-purple or greyed-red     RHS No           46A 59A 178AB     FLOWER ARRANGEMENT                      BD     FLOWER FRAGRANCE Present     ______________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chamelaucium uncinatum plant substantially as shown and described herein, distinguished principally from other varieties of its type by 